C64 music : Cybernoid 2 (title) by Jeroen Tel

The title music from Cybernoid 2. In my opinion, this is one of the finest pieces of SID game music you will hear.

[@JeroenTel]

I think what makes this stand out is the fact I was a gamer (15/16 years old) as wel as a composer/programmer... I understood the need for good music on a C64 game; ask any of my friends how reluctant I was doing anything else but compose music for the Commodore 64. Sounds funny? I was! :-)

[@JeroenTel]

***** Thanks!

[@lorenzodigaetano3591]

Cybernoid 2 title theme is the best sound ever produced for the C64, and one of the best of videogame history. I'm never tired of listening to it.

[@Sussurak]

This was one of the games I would load up now and then in order to do nothing else but listen to the music. You turned it up to eleven and then broke the dial as you took it up to twelve. As strong today as it was all that time ago.

[@LesDuffy]

Jeroen, you (and the Maniacs of Noise) were always my favorite C64 musician. It seems so long ago now, but I used to load games that had your music and just sit there listening. I'll never forget those days! :)

[@JeroenTel]

Sussurak Awesome! Thanks man!

[@JeroenTel]

I was only 16 when I wrote this, please give me *some* credit. :-)

[@LesDuffy]

What kind of software did you use to make songs back then?

[@yuliyamusti2011]

Kudos and Thanx

[@ufukcingay2392]

Jeroen you are always cool (Darkangel/url/tmp)

[@AndersHolck]

@@LesDuffy Quite confident he wrote the songs in machine code / assembly.

[@InnerTurbulence73]

Exactly. It's a masterpiece.

[@Rattopaz]

When almost all 80's machines were only performing "bip bip" in games, the C64 was playing real music, that was the magic that made the C64 so great. Jeroen Tel=Genius.

[@JeroenTel]

Thank you, Rattopaz! =)

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

I think the Amiga version is better. 😏

[@AndyMitchellUK26]

@@mikeymcmikeface5599 As much as I liked the Amiga, I have to disagree. It's too "clean" whereas this is gritty and really pushed the hardware of the time. They had so much more power available on the Amiga and I don't think they nailed it like Jeroen did.

[@gustru2078]

Ad Lib was nice though. Came out in 1987 only to get ripped off by Creative and the soundblaster in 1990. Anyway, music was possible for a solid 3 years in DOS before the soundblaster. Unfortunately, most games from before 1990 don't make use of it, especially those ported from the C64/Amiga for some reason. Go figure

[@cairsahrstjoseph996]

Nice avatar

[@stell4you]

I remember one Night. It was many years after C64, when Amiga was slowly dying and PC took off in the gaming industry. I was at an EBM Party where I met new friends. One guy was a hardcore EBM fan and when we started talking about the old gaming days, we talked about the music of the C64. I was a big Huelsbeck fan, but the tracks of David Whittaker, Martin Galway, Ben Daglish and Jonathan Dunn were always present. Of course the name Jeroen Tel also came up. I don't remember exactly how it was, but a few days later he was at my house late at night, and we were talking about C46 music. I mentioned Dynamix by Jeroen Tel, a song he didn't seem to know. I had my C64 at a friend's house for a long time, but the guy was so keen to hear the song that I persuaded my friend late at night to come over with the C64. We assembled the box and when he heard the song and especially the fucked up "triphop" elements, it was like he had an epiphany and heard something that was definitely missing in his life.

[@analogmoz]

More heart and soul than most OSTs today by a country mile. Well done.

[@JeroenTel]

Hopefully we get hired properly for exactly this sentiment. Good games should be accompanied with good and memorable music. :-)

[@supakusuta]

True

[@umberto21]

in a 100 years, in a 1000 years we'll all be dead but this music will remain, on some corner of the internet. forever. This tune is very clean (production) and eventful (not boring). Very talented kid, you were!

[@paul1979uk2000]

When I say to my friend I'm listening to some classical music, this is what I mean lol.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

LOL

[@JeroenTel]

Now *that's* funny. =D

[@jhoughjr1]

HVSC ftw!

[@deniseduck1981]

Samsies lol

[@paul1979uk2000]

@@JeroenTel Hey it's true, after all, what defines classical music? it's us the listening public lol.

[@djmoonstar]

Jeroen Tel, if you see this...thank YOU oh so much for this amazing tune and many others like it. I will never stop listening to it. I'm 39 years old, and these tunes will follow with me FOREVER indeed. nothing tops the c64. Maniacs Of Noise music is beyond time. Thank you.

[@JeroenTel]

Thank *you* for that compliment @djmoonstar! :-)

[@thefunkdroid2777]

+Jeroen Tel Ladies amd Gentlemen: JEROEN TEL!

[@JeroenTel]

LOL! :-D

[@3622Dave]

I agree with everything that djmoonstar said, can I have thumbs up, or even a piss off from Jeroen please?!! LOVE this music!! :)

[@JeroenTel]

+David Craddock I'll just give you a thumbs up, David! :-D Thanks, man! I really appreciate that, man! :-D

[@meza7676]

Im 45 years old... Jeroen Tel is a genius and hes music is absolutely amazing... JEROEN THANK YOU.... 7 years with C64 was..... It was a lovely time in my life❤️... Mark from Poland 👍

[@JeroenTel]

[@huseyinkrk8270]

@@JeroenTel from Turkey Jeroen... ❤️

[@stefannafets7828]

Timeless. Masterpiece. C64 Musicians are Magicians. In Memory of Ben Daglish. Keep the SID Music alive. This is timeless. Outstanding. I have no words for this. Just thank you. You all give tears to an 44 year old. I thank you for doing this.

[@ivanski28]

This is just amazing little tune! It's been running around in my brain for 25+ years and I thought it was something out of JMJ only now I've figured out where I heard it! My friend's C64!

[@chumbert5]

I had this as the menu music for SNES9x on my Xbox. Thank you for posting this

[@bluefugue]

Definitely one of the SID masterpieces. Thanks for uploading.

[@eetech4356]

One of my favorite Jeroen Tel C64 tracks. It's still amazing what composers/programmers were able to create from the SID. True talent!

[@Cindyrella2003]

OMG, I can't believe I found this. This song is GENIUS. 1991, I was 12, I had a C64 for my birthday and I loved this piece of music so much, I recorded it on a little cassette player with a crappy external microphone so I could play it on tape any time I wanted. This is so cool!!!

[@jasonedmunds5821]

After all these years with all my current tech' I still sit listening to SID tunes and this is one of my favourites. Stunning track!!!! Jeroen Tel

[@shutdown101]

This song brings a tear to the eye every time i listen to it. The memories!

[@apbweezle]

Hard to believe there are never more than 3 sounds playing at the same time, amazing!

[@thelol1759]

Its beyond amazing for me. Its magical. The people who compose for these primitive SID chips are more than just artists, they're something greater. Mixing the technical know-how with classical knowledge of musical theory to force something as simple as the c64 to make something as complex as a full blown composition.

[@JeroenTel]

***** Amazing compliment, thank you so much! :-)

[@strelitziapete9071]

***** yeah just like the operation wolf c64 loader, I love that theme

[@vincentvandeelen168]

I can’t get this tune out of my mind. It keeps haunting me! ;) I keep on listening over and over again. One of the best game music tunes of the C64 era!

[@GuruMediator]

This was simply just no video game tune, this was part of the soundtrack to my life. :D

[@00Skyfox]

This is definitely one of my all time favorite pieces of C64 music. It's just outstanding!

[@auritone]

The SID chip once again strutting its stuff! There was so much talent on the old breadbox...

[@JeroenTel]

Agreed. #Rob Hubbard up first. I called him up when I was 13 and later worked with him during the Commodore 64 orchestra many years later. It's a platform that will never die.

[@Sh-hg8kf]

@@JeroenTel Ever talked to TIM Follin yet? What do you think of his music

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

Ah, Follin. He did some great stuff on the Spectrum. That's my favorite machine. 😎

[@oidadesgibtsned]

This is one cool master piece of music. I've grown up with C64 (and caught the IT Virus) and these tunes along with that special SID sound will be with me as long as I walk on Earth for this instance of my Life. What remains to say is simple: Thank you very much, Mr. Tel, for wonderful tunes!

[@P-S-T]

Great tune. Has it all. Love C64 music, not just the sounds, the way it sounds, melodies etc. 😎

[@drumjod]

A couple thoughts crossed my mind when I listened to this. They were "wow" and "wait what? This is absolutely ridiculously amazing and it keeps going." Song doesn't even repeat until about 5-6 minutes in.

[@matthiaspuch9752]

I checked again. Still no C64 tune managed to top this one. In-fucking-credible what Jeroen did there.

[@JeroenTel]

Thank you @Matthias Puch!

[@MrCageman]

Amazingly, Jeroen Tel was only about 16(!) years old when this game released. Writing epic game music for the C64 at the age of 14-15.. A true genius! Oh, and yes: best C64 tune I have ever heard. A true classic.

[@elvin_cllc]

when we were little with my brother, we stay listening to this music on the xbox, what nostalgia, thank you for posting it, I feel less alone.

[@stynov83]

Jeroen, I was more of an amiga guy back those days but friends etc. had c-64's and used to borrow some of their machines but never played this particular game or have heard this tune before and I have to say this is goddamn hands down AMAZING. Hard to imagine it comes from a hardware of 1982.

[@JeroenTel]

Thanks man! :-) You humble me!

[@MatusFinchus]

Jeroen, thank you for so many perfect slices of audio heaven from the 80's. The SiD chip maestro. All the best. :-)

[@adroharv9213]

This and the first Cybernoid game remain Jeroen Tel's best work. He' always been technically great in all his pieces but these two pieces were frankly just better musically. Not surprising considering the age his brain was

[@ChrisHennick]

10 people have failed to retrieve a cargo value of 1500 within the time allocated. Bad luck.

[@andyukmonkey]

I think a few more than that failed to. I'd go even further to say most people didn't get more than 5 screens into the game without cheating.

[@mikeymcmikeface5599]

@@andyukmonkey Whoosh! It is 22 now.

[@davidincornwall]

At this stage in C64 history, the new boys even put the master Rob Hubbard to shame. It sounds like there's more than 3 channels, even without samples.

[@SendyTheEndless]

This SID has the best rapid arpeggio chords I've ever heard. They actually sound like chords and really full.

[@thelol1759]

It really does. Its something that remains totally unique, even today. Its a niche sound to be sure, but something I'll be damned if I ever let die.

[@guyh3403]

Never heard it since I am more of an Amiga guy. But this one went straight to the top of my favorites. Wow, what an amazing tune!

[@jacktorrance4692]

the best music on c64. period

[@TheRetroShed]

What a brilliant bit of SID music. Love it!

[@seanmccafferty3189]

Jeroen Tel, you are a genius. This is still some of the greatest computer game music ever created. The game creators and musicians of today are truly standing on your shoulders sir. :)

[@arthur42]

Might be the best C64 tune ever. It sounds so fresh. so full, that it's hard to believe it plays on a cheap-ass 3 channel sound chip from 30 years ago. Great craftmanship, Jeroen Tel.

[@NotPoliticalCorrect]

I "loved" Jeroen Tel Music back in those days i called myself Platoon and were a co-founder of the Danish demo group Daniax .... and others .. loved to rip music from games and use em in demos ! :) I was mostly programming and figuring out how to do stuff back in 1986-1991 !

[@fuzzface100]

Absolutely awesome music. Jeroen Tel was a genius with the SID chip. His compositions also stand up in their own right as full blown orchestral pieces as has been proved.

[@OnafetsEnovap]

Happy Birthday, Jeroen Tel! :)

[@rets1972]

This track to me is the best ever c64 tune i ever heard back in the 80's i didnt even have the game just a demo on tape and i would load it just to listen to this :)

[@3622Dave]

Same here. If it's the same demo from Zzap! 64 then we also got the soundtrack from the original Cybernoid as a loading track. It stopped halfway through but if you stopped the cassette player before loading ended you got to here the entire track!!

[@rets1972]

David Craddock I believe it was the zzap 64 demo tape and yes I used to stop the tape to hear the other tune in full.

[@freddievaneyk3071]

Same here , could never get the full game here in South Africa , so just used to load up the demo , hook up the mini hifi to the c64 , and listen to the music ....

[@JeroenTel]

+Freddie van Eyk : Awesome! :-)

[@metromanila2011]

Masterpiece

[@losalfajoresok]

The game was good but this soundtrack is simply EPIC. It's the best C64 song by far, followed by the Commando song. So many memories from my childhood, I thank you so much for uploading this gem.

[@YoreHistory]

Jeroen, as a fellow dutchman let me say your music DEFINED an era. You were easily my favourite of the C64 SID artists. The fact you were my age and a gamer of course is awesome too but man these songs still stand the test of time...they do not in the slightest sound dated imo! THANK YOU :)

[@funguy8801]

Everything about this song's structure and execution is PERFECT! MIND-BLOWING composition!

[@keithfulkerson]

I could never get very far in the game, but would run it just to hear this music.

[@DavidPigbody]

Keith Fulkerson same

[@JeroenTel]

soundcloud.com/maniacs-of-noise/jeroen-tel-cybernoid-preview-21-feb-2016?in=maniacs-of-noise/sets/tel-me-more-previews

[@InnerTurbulence73]

One of the finest C64-tunes ever...!

[@chloedevereaux1801]

i remember the very first time i loaded it... i was also 15-16 and it blew me away as my 64 was hooked up to my stereo!!!!!!!

[@FlemmingNLarsen]

Probably the best C64 tune ever made! I really love it!

[@nintengurnd]

I can't, i just can't. i don't understand. how just how is this so good all c64 is so good it's like this music is from another dimension or something (although most of em similar to synthpop)

[@Cosmos_Quantum]

because you are getting old and miss your purify as you were child, same for me and all other good people, we live in peace, not hurt anyone to get carrier,money etc. we are just ambitious to do good, to be good, we must share every good thing with good people to make earth, heaven

[@JeroenTel]

Absolutely true!

[@Alianger]

This thread got deep, but I just want to say that I missed out on the C64 back in the day (born in '85) and still find this music pretty awesome.

[@JeroenTel]

Good point, +Alianger !

[@paxhumana2015]

Get off of the fucking drugs, +TheLastNinjaRemix.

[@LesDuffy]

Love this and everything the Maniacs of Noise ever did. They were way ahead of their time!

[@Kusivittu666]

I totally agree. There are many great composers but the Maniacs of Noise seem to be the face of the newer era Commodore sound and most of the stuff they've done is just stunning.

[@JeroenTel]

666 6 years ago... I agree... haha =D

[@JeroenTel]

Just stumbled into this again... thanks for the kind sentiment! :-)

[@Edgel-in6bs]

Utterly brilliant SID tune. Used to load this up and listen to it when doing my homework. Only one close is commando loading music...

[@HuntersMoon78]

I remember the Commando loader music was called Living On Video

[@Se7en20082008]

retrogamer33 Not exactly.. It sounded like living on video, but it was just called "elite loader" on the sid. Airwolf and Bombjack also had this loading music. Nobody was actually credited for making the piece of music either.

[@MrMikeabcd1]

Arguably the most iconic C64 track ever composed by the talented J.Tell. The Maniacs of Noise went on to compose many legendary SID chip compositions, however this one stands out as one of the greatest of all time.

[@CMGMariusz]

Awesome music. My best music from the game for Commodore 64.

[@0kti]

True

[@stooart2008]

Amazing. Still holds up today, Jeroen Tel was amazing.

[@GJ-mn9ly]

Still sounds amazing in 2020!, Jeroen Tel you are the master!.

[@Frostie3672]

Awesome soundtrack this game had, I remember loading this game once where I found out my sid ii chip had decided to go pop, god damn it lol, was torture being without my C64 while it was being repaired.

[@stephen2876]

The SID chip was a kick ass piece of technology way ahead of its time, that beat the opposition into the ground. And a lot of the tunes produced back in the 80s still sound amazing today.

[@leerobertson7226]

One of my favorites , along with the ocean loaders . Cheers J T.

[@neilhopkinson12]

Jeremy i listened to this over and over when i was younger. I would stop the game loading to hear it all.

[@JeroenTel]

ZroDfects Imagine this same tune played at a $100m high-roller played by the London Symphony Orchestra (the music, not the sounds!)... Still complaining then? :-)

[@ZroDfects]

I would love to see that :)... To me it seems that chip music has a much better melody to it than traditional music. Growing up with the Amiga I just can't adapt to today's CD quality music as others could.

[@JeroenTel]

ZroDfects Hence the London Symphony Orchestra deal!

[@paxhumana2015]

That is because you are a fucking moron, +Zro Dfects.

[@EmmanuelSimond]

+Jeroen Tel Hi gamer composer/programmer. But ... it is NOT SID sound here right?? sounds too good to me. It's a modern arrangement , right?

[@JeroenTel]

This is 100% Commodore 64 SID, sir!

[@mysheffield1]

This music brings a tear to my eye - thank you Jeroen Tel :)

[@TheRetroShed]

Keep coming back for a listen from time to time - a true C64 / Amiga classic. Such wonderful music from a great era in videogaming!

[@agpxnet]

Jeroen Tel... I really adore your musics. You are over the top!

[@Gordholm]

Great Piece of Art still one of my favorites

[@stefanguhren1036]

One of the best tunes ever made on the C64. Want to make a metal cover of this one!

[@leerobertson7226]

One of the best tunes on the C64, love it.

[@Amon1973]

La migliore musica per C64...ottimo compositore, negli anni l'ho apprezzata sempre di più. Ho 44 anni e continuo ad ascoltarla ! Continua così !

[@storminboy]

Excellent this, loved the old school 8bit music and games. Fantastic memories.

[@TheMikecesta]

A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!génius.Thank you verymuch Jeroen

[@Jerrys000]

Awesome track from 1988/9. Brings back many memories. Certainly up there with the best C64 game tunes along with Zamzara, LED Storm, Eliminator, Myth, Turrican, Stormlord, Turbo Outrun, Last Ninja 2, Dominator, Armalyte, Hawkeye, Delta, Hotrod, Cyberdine Warrior etc.

[@rets1972]

one of my all time favs from the c64 was thinking of uploading my modified version in stereo but i'll think i'll leave it this sounds great thanks for uploading.

[@gordonhoughton3095]

I remember walking around a Commodore show back in 1985 at the Novotel in London and hearing amazing music, I found my way to the source and it was the music from Crazy comets, I bought the game for the music, the games good to and just to say that you have done an amazing job with this piece of music, I could listen to it for hours.

[@Frostie3672]

Can remember loading this game one day only to find out my sid iI chip had blown after being met with silence where the music started! What a bummer that was, thankfully the repair shop replaced the chip in quick order & I was back gaming again.

[@CaptainMagenta6]

Having a nostalgia fit!!!! OMG!!!!.... CLASSIC!!!

[@JeroenTel]

:-)

[@RandomMcSomethin]

Knowing that this guy was only 16 when he composed this really puts into perspective for me how incredible this guy is and how I have such a long way to go lol

[@valiantjoker4939]

JEROEN! YOU LEGEND -YES YOU! YOU ALLOWED OUR IMAGINATIONS TO RUN FREE WITH YOUR AMAZING AND AWESOME MUSICAL MASTERPIECES!

[@mf-h3659]

one of my fave bits of game music of all time!

[@michalzimniak]

one of the best songs of C64

[@stefannafets7828]

They are still magicians. What a wonderful song. Thank you very much!!!

[@ProBloggerWorld]

You were 16 when you composed this masterpiece? That is impressive: extra credit! :-)

[@funguy8801]

Composer must be a Back to the Future version of Amadeus.

[@JeroenTel]

I take that as a huge compliment. ;-)

[@leebrooks444]

one of the best tracks ever, a masterpiece makes me go cold litening to it

[@mrsnoo86]

1:32 - 1:43 That low bass + drum part so addictive. Brilliant piece of art!

[@HuntersMoon78]

The whole tune is addictive

[@Tanashahimaru]

Well, I've found my new ringtone!

[@richardcsebak8404]

I say simply one word,like to music of Last Ninja.This word is:YYYYEEEEEEEEAAAAAHHHHHHH!C64 era will live forever!! :) No matter what modern laptops there will be.C64 is in the hearts of man,and one complete generation's life was directed by it.

[@Randomtraveller-tn6dr]

This indeed was amazing work with SID.

[@user-fx6gd9ry1o]

When my friends don't know what kind of music im listining to it Its those kind of retro games music chiptunes

[@vp_bot]

this music goes hard

[@geeyin]

Fantastic tune. Its amazing how good the sid chip was in its day.

[@AudieHolland]

I just love synthesizers, especially the old ones when they would make their own electronical sound. Nowadays, synthesizers are just used to simulate other real instruments (flute, brass, violins). I just have to say the C=64 has a beautiful sound.

[@gathgealaich2552]

Hah, that reminded me of the "antique instruments" dialog in Asimov's _Foundation and Earth_: _"What makes them antique, by the way? Primitive computers?"_ _"No, no. That’s the point. It isn’t electronic music at all, but mechanical. They described it to me. They scrape strings, blow in tubes, and bang on surfaces."_ _"I hope you’re making that up,” said Trevize, appalled._ :-D

[@inphanta]

To be fair, modern synthesisers also create their own sounds. That is what a synthesiser is by necessity. The simulation of real instruments is a completely different process where the source instrument is "sampled".

[@Erik-vp5bm]

+AudieHolland That statement tells me that you have never ever heard of the electronical music genre at all.

[@AudieHolland]

*Erik McAwful* Well, you're entitled to having no brains I guess. I don't know much electronical music but I don't know much classical music either. Jean Michel Jarre never topped himself after "Oxygene."

[@Erik-vp5bm]

AudieHolland I am highly unsure what message you tried to convey there, but fact is that this whole umbrella genre is based on that concept.

[@melodymorano]

*cries a single manly tear from the sheer awesomeness*

[@ZroDfects]

You hit the nail on the head right there, unfortunately chip music was in the 80's and 90's era and in today's games it wouldn't quite match the games that well but if I had a choice of a multi million dollar game created in hi tech graphics or 16-bit with chip music put together by talented high school kids I know which I would prefer. 8-bit & 16-bit and chip music always holds a place in my heart along with the Commodore, nothing compares and nothing will.

[@chloedevereaux1801]

hubbard was good....... tel is a GOD... my fave 64 tune ever, still listen to it to this day and it's awesome to play live on synths :D thank you jeroen x

[@theusher2893]

This song illustrates perfectly a principle of early games: the sound had to tell a story. In particular, the music had to carry the emotional weight of the entire game. Every great classic game has one thing in common: outstanding music. Even a mediocre game could be elevated by a good score.

[@BFCrusader]

I have listened to an orchestral version of this track and it sounds like the best of them classical music pieces.

[@edGuy_]

Thank you WarOwl

[@MyAmazingKarma]

The most amazing song in C64. I used to load the game just to listen it.

[@JeroenTel]

Thanks, Carlos! =)